The Point in Time (PIT) Count is an annual count of people experiencing homelessness that is carried out on one night in January. The Housing Inventory Count (HIC) is a count of available beds and the occupancy of those beds on the same night the PIT is conducted. The sheltered count and housing inventory count are conducted annually, and the unsheltered count is conducted semi-annually.
The PIT Count and HIC are required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CFR Part 578, and by the Washington state RCW 46.185C.030. Data from the PIT and HIC is reported in the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, which is shared with Congress and other governing bodies to inform local planning on homelessness services and funding needs. Commerce provides training, data collection software, and technical assistance to the Balance of State CoC for the PIT and HIC.
2026 PIT Count
The 2026 Point in Time Count was conducted on January 29, 2026. This count included a sheltered and unsheltered count.
2026 PIT results and historical data dating back to 2015 can be found linked in the Washington State PIT Count Results Box folder.